Author Archives: Arab America

One of Carl Antoun’s favourite things to do in Manhattan’s financial district is to ask passers-by, “Did you know that you’re standing in Little Syria right now?” Less than 100 years ago, New York City’s renowned commercial district was home to the largest Arab community in the Western hemisphere. Since the 1880’s, Arab immigrants from … Continued

Western Michigan University professor and Portage author Hedy Habra’s 2012 book, “Flying Carpets,” was honored by the Arab American Book Awards. Habra’s book won an honorable mention by this year’s awards. She will be part of a ceremony in Detroit on Nov. 2. Habra, who teaches Spanish at WMU, released the collection of short stories … Continued

From a distance, they depict destruction and despair. Huge images of buildings left in rubble, seemingly monochromatic, certainly saddening. But a closer examination of these chaotic landscapes reveals depth, color, meaning and hope for the future. The Arab American National Museum presents John Halaka: Landscapes of Desire, opening this Friday, August 2, running through Sunday, … Continued

About the Position: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) seeks to fill the position of National Organizer and Membership Coordinator. The qualified individual will be responsible for building membership, planning, and implementing the external organizing program, preparing organizational and informational literature, leading recruitment drives and other issues related to organizing. The qualified individual will also work … Continued

Actress Najla Said is a Palestinian-Lebanese-American Christian, but growing up in New York City, her identity was anything but clearly defined. The daughter of prominent literary critic Edward Said, she spent her childhood in one of the most influential intellectual households in America. Edward Said, who died in 2003, was a renowned professor at Columbia … Continued

In most respects, Najla Said’s childhood wasn’t that different from that of most upper middle-class native New Yorkers. She grew up in Morningside Heights during the 1970s, where she attended acting lessons and the Upper East Side’s tony Chapin School. She loved watching “I Dream of Jeannie” reruns and playing the “Joseph and the Technicolor … Continued

Helen Thomas’ life was a relentless search for the truth, without fear or favor. It was her calling, profession and duty. She loved being a journalist, and she strived daily to deliver accurate news to the American people. “If your mother says she loves you,” she was fond of saying, “get a second opinion.” Helen … Continued

Muslims are a small minority in the U.S., so it can be a challenge for some of the faithful to observe their religion in a society that doesn’t follow the same rituals. This is especially so during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, which this year falls on the hottest and longest days of the year. … Continued

It’s been long-awaited, but the Library of Arabic Literature, an ambitious series of 35 books to be published over the next five years, has at last been launched. First announced in 2010, the LAL comes out of a partnership between NYU Press and NYU Abu Dhabi, and it aims to do for classical and early … Continued

In life, she fearlessly sought to elicit truth from America’s elected leaders, the ultimate personification of “the watchdog of democracy.” She blazed a clear trail for untold numbers of journalists – women – who observed the longtime Dean of The White House Press Corps and never doubted their own ability to succeed in a media … Continued

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found the Crestwood School District in Dearborn Heights violated the federal Civil Rights Act by failing to hire Arab-American and minority teachers, discriminating against Arab Americans in its hiring and recruiting practices and retaliating against a guidance counselor who raised concerns about those and other issues in the … Continued

The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC), a premier nonprofit human service organization serving southeast Michigan, along with Congressman Gary Peters, is urging any eligible Syrian national and person without nationality who last habitually resided in Syria, and who are now in the United States, to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). On June 17, … Continued